News

Alaska Guard members recognized for assisting state lab with COVID-19 testing
October 1, 2020 — From early June, to mid-August, Alaska Air and Army National Guardsmen Capt. Roger Tran and Capt. Jamie Bowden, both assigned to the 103rd Civil Support Team, augmented the Alaska State Public Health laboratory by processing COVID-19 samples for testing.Over the course of approximately 21 days of testing, totaling more than 148-man hours, the two... MORE

Alaska Army National Guard Capt. Jamie Bowden, who specializes in medical operations for the 103rd Civil Support team, tests COVID-19 samples at the Alaska State Public Health laboratory on June 8, 2020. Bowden augmented the Alaska State Public Health laboratory, working closely with state microbiologists, processing COVID-19 samples for testing. Over the course of approximately 21 days of testing, totaling more than 148-man hours, the two officers tested 11,426 samples. (U.S. Air National Guard courtesy photo by Capt. Roger Tran)

Alaska Army Guard aviator performs first real-world rescue mission over drill weekend
October 1, 2020 — Chief Warrant Officer Two Paul Gillquist woke up for his weekend training the morning of Sept. 13, 2020 expecting to perform a routine training mission aboard his Uh-60 Blackhawk helicopter. For three years since flight school graduation, Gillquist honed his piloting skills, awaiting the opportunity to have his training put to the test outside the... MORE

Chief Warrant Officer Two Paul Gillquist, an Alaska Army National Guard pilot assigned to the 207th Aviation Regiment, stands in front of UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter, Aug. 22, 2020 at the Bryant Army Airfield on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson. Gillquist’s call sign is "Icy 13", and he happened to perform his first real-world rescue mission on the 13th of September 2020. (Courtesy photo)

Alaska Air National Guard awards 2019 Field Grade Officer of the Year
September 17, 2020 — Alaska Air National Guardsman and retired Alaska State Trooper, Lt. Col. James Truesdell, commander of the 176th Security Forces Squadron, was awarded the 2019 Field Grade Officer of the Year award Sept. 15 for his accomplishments last year.“Lt. Col. Truesdell has demonstrated a level of excellence that distinguished him from his peers,” said Col... MORE

Col. John Oberst, director of staff for the Alaska Air National Guard, presents the Alaska Air Guard award for 2019 Field Grade Officer of the Year to Lt. Col. James Truesdell, the commander of the 176th Security Forces Squadron for his leadership accomplishments in 2019 at the 176th Wing Headquarters on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Sept. 15, 2020. Truesdell is also a retired Alaska State Trooper. He played a pivotal role in the success of his unit’s deployment to Afghanistan in 2019 in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Seth LaCount/Released)

Alaska Air Guard awards First Sergeant of the Year
September 17, 2020 — Alaska National Guard Airman, Master Sgt. Melissa Erhard, was awarded the 2019 First Sergeant of the Year award Sept. 15 for her accomplishments last year.As an Anchorage resident and Arizona native, Erhard has been a first sergeant with the 176th Air Defense Squadron since October 2015.Erhard is the only first sergeant in the unit of more than 150... MORE

Alaska Air National Guardsmen Lt. Col. Shane Wallace and Chief Master Sgt. Heather Pineiro, the Commander and Chief Enlisted Manager assigned to the 176th Air Defense Squadron stand beside 1st Sgt. Melissa Erhard, the Alaska Air National Guard's 2019 First Sergeant of the Year, Sept. 15, 2020 on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson. Erhard distinguished herself in 2019 through her ability to foster resiliency among her Airmen and her community. The red stars in the backdrop represent the number of Russian intercepts made by the unit through the years, whose mission is to defend the nation's Air Sovereignty in the region. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Seth LaCount/Released)

Alaska Air Guard awards First Sergeant of the Year
September 17, 2020 — Alaska National Guard Airman, Master Sgt. Melissa Erhard, was awarded the 2019 First Sergeant of the Year award on Tuesday, Sept. 15 for her accomplishments last year.As an Anchorage resident and Arizona native, Erhard has been a first sergeant with the 176th Air Defense Squadron since October 2015.Erhard is the only first sergeant in the unit of... MORE

Alaska Air National Guardsman takes home regional Airman of the Year award
September 9, 2020 — Staff Sgt. Kailey Mills, a crew chief assigned to the 176th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Alaska Air National Guard, received the regional Airman of the Year Award last week for her accomplishments in 2019.While still wearing the rank of senior airman, Mills executed 44 major inspections, completed five aircraft modifications, had a 100-percent... MORE

Staff Sgt. Kailey Mills, an HC-130 crew chief with the 176th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Alaska Air National Guard, accepts the regional-level Airman of the Year award from the Alaska National Guard’s Senior Enlisted Leader, Command Chief Master Sgt. Winfield Hinkley Jr. Sept. 2, 2020. Mills competed with Airmen from eight states in the northwest region to earn the award. In her civilian life, Mills is employed as a nurse and has introduced approximately 120 civilians to Air National Guard career paths, garnering three accessions. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Seth LaCount/Released)

211th Rescue Squadron captures top individual awards for 2019
September 2, 2020 — Alaska Air National Guardsmen Capt. Natasha Sanders and Tech Sgt. Christopher Luther, both assigned to the 211th Rescue Squadron, achieved top honors for 2019 and were awarded with a plaque and coin Aug. 28 for their accomplishments.Both Airmen were evaluated based on leadership and job performance in their primary duty and whole Airman... MORE

Alaska Air National Guard Tech Sgt. Christopher Luther, an instructor/evaluator loadmaster with the 211th Rescue Squadron, is given the Noncommissioned Officer of the Year award from State Command Chief Master Sgt. Christopher Wilson at Hangar 18 on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson Aug. 28, 2020. Luther was recognized for his accomplishments in 2019 that included graduating first out of 79 students in his Noncommissioned Officer's Academy class and taking home the coveted Levitow Award. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Seth LaCount/Released)

A lighthouse in the storm: 176th Wing Director of Psychological Health is here to help
August 26, 2020 — A single COVID cell is no more than 140 nanometers in diameter — about 1/500th the width of a human hair — but it has come to dominate daily life the world over.Beyond its physical health impact, Diann Richardson, 176th Wing director of Psychological Health, said the invisible microorganism also has psychological health impacts as Airmen, civilian... MORE

Alaska Army Guard MP keeps marksmanship skills sharp during TAG Match
August 12, 2020 — Dressed in his usual uniform but adding kevlar body armor and a combat helmet, Alaska Army National Guard Spc. Carlos Polidura, a military police Soldier with the Military Police Ground Based Interceptor Security Company at Fort Greely, stood out.His stern demeanor distinguished him from the rest of the competitors with his confidence on full... MORE

Alaska Army National Guard Spc. Carlos Polidura is a military police Soldier serving in the Military Police Ground Based Interceptor Security Company, participating in a course of fire Aug. 2, 2020, during the 2020 Alaska National Guard Adjutant General Match at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson. TAG Match is a marksmanship competition comprising several timed pistol and rifle events. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Spc. Marc Marmeto/Released).